Tropea

The coastline of the south Tyrrhenian Sea alternates between dramatic cliffs and beaches of soft, golden sand, all edged with clear translucent seas. It’s no wonder that this area has long been popular with Italian visitors.

Tropea is, with its pastel-coloured houses clinging to the cliff tops and its churches seeming to grow out of the rock itself, one of the most picturesque towns on the Calabrian coast, lying on a promontory which stretches from Nicotera in the south to Pizzo in the north.

Tropea itself is a pretty tangle of narrow, winding streets that open out onto charming piazzas. The town overlooks the medieval church of Santa Maria dell’Isola, which sits on its own island, now joined to the mainland. The beautiful Norman cathedral is also worth a visit. Two unexploded WWII bombs lie near the door and are believed not to have detonated because of divine intervention on the part of Tropea’s patron saint, Our Lady of Romania.

In the evening, secure a table with a view, order a cold drink and a plate of something delicious to eat, sit back and testify the amazing beauty of one of Tropea’s magical, amethyst sunsets. Sunsail’s base in Tropea is located in the town’s main marina, near a shopping area and an open-air theatre. A minibus is operating to the town centre, which will avoid you having to walk up the nearly two hundred steps that lead from the harbour to the town.